Whirlwinds outpace LR CatholicThe Russellville Junior High School Whirlwinds scored three touchdowns in the second half of their 26-14 win over the Little Rock Catholic Junior Rockets on Thursday at Cyclone Stadium. Russellville (3-2) and Little Rock battled to a 7-7 draw at halftime, but adjustments were on the side of the Whirlwinds. They opened the game with a 85-yard kickoff return by Bryson Kordsmeier to put Russellville up 7-0 with just 13 seconds shaved off the cloc...

Wonder Boys pursuing 4-0 startThe level of competition has increased during each of the first three games of the 2015 Arkansas Tech University football season. Week four will be no different. The Wonder Boys (3-0) will host the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (2-1) for a 6 p.m. Great American Conference contest at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville on Saturday, Sept. 26. It will be Family Day at Arkansas Tech. Party at the Plaza will begin outside the s...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Pottsville golf qualifies three for statePOTTSVILLE — Pottsville Apaches and Lady Apaches golfers Krissy davis, Cheyenne Carillo and Logan Porter qualified for the Class 4A State Golf Tournament. The Lady Apaches state golfers will play on Sept. 28 at the Country Club of Arkansas. The Apaches will play on Oct. 6 at Coopers Hawk in Melbourne. Pottsville head golf coach Matt Lee said he was proud of the accomplishments of all his golfers, even those who did not make state. “A big thank...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Dardanelle golf sends four to stateFAIRFIELD BAY — The Dardanelle Sand Lizards and Lady Sand Lizards golf teams qualified four for state and won the 4A-4 District Golf Tournament at Mountain Ranch Golf Club. The Lady Sand Lizards shot a team score of 310 to defeat the defending state champion Arkansas Baptist by seven strokes. Senior Juliana Harper finished second overall with a round of 88. Senior Taylor Salters shot a round of 102. “I won’t be able to replace Juliana and Tayl...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

RHS cross country to host Cyclone InviteThe Russellville Cyclones cross country team will host the 42nd annual Cyclone Invitational on Saturday at Old Post Park. It is the oldest cross country meet in the state created by former Cyclones and Arkansas Hall of Fame coach Don Carnahan in 1973. With 30 teams and around 1,000 runners it’s also among the largest. “This is an important meet for us,” Cyclones head coach John Frazier said. “You always want to do well at your home meet. It’s ...

RHS tennis splits with TexarkanaThe Russellville Cyclones and Lady Cyclones tennis teams hosted the Texarkana Razorbacks at the Russellville High School tennis courts (RHS) in a nonconference match on Tuesday. The Cyclones, again playing without No. 1 singles player Siam Hooks, split with the Razorbacks 2-2. Texarkana took the singles matches, but the Cyclones’ doubles teams both won easily to even the team score. Bryce Johnson and Carter Thessing dominated their match 8-1, ...

Apaches tennis takes on Arkansas Baptist, SubiacoLITTLE ROCK — The Pottsville Apaches and Lady Apaches tennis team won 4-of-6 matches against Arkansas Baptist on Monday. “I was very proud of all my players’ effort,” Pottsville head coach Keri McAlisters said. “We have been playing a lot of tennis on the road, and the way my players continue to respond and develop is admirable. Arkansas Baptist always has a solid program, and we played well.” Results Boys Singles Kyle Hudson (Pottsville) defe...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Cyclones host Volley in the ValleyThe Russellville Lady Cyclones hosted Volley in the Valley on Saturday inside Cyclone Gymnasium. “It was a good day for us,” Russellville head coach Cindy Jones said. “We play very well in tournament play. We had a big day from our middles, Shameka Ealy and Madison McKinley.” Russellville entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed out of its pool. The Lady Cyclones defeated Benton and the Little Rock Flames in two sets. Jones said both wins were...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

CSI names Shannon First Tee Participant of the MonthCommunity Service, Inc. (CSI) named Breanna Shannon as the First Tee Participant of the month for September. Shannon is the daughter of Amanda and Aaron Shannon of Russellville, and attends Pottsville Middle School. “Breanna has developed a passion for the game of golf," Sam Taylor, CSI First Tee Golf coach, said. “Breanna comes to class with a great attitude and is a quick learner.” Shannon's mother has also seen positive changes since her da...

Dardanelle braces for fired-up ApachesDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle Sand Lizards hung 69 points on the Clarksville Panthers in one half last week at Bob Keenan Field, but that does little to calm Dardanelle head coach Josh Price’s nerves about the Battle of the Big River and the incoming Pottsville Apaches on Friday. “They already beat two teams that are better than we are,” Price said. “I have no doubts we will get their best shot. They will be amped up. Records don’t matter now. E...

Pirates defeat Mayflower 48-6MAYFLOWER — The Dover Pirates dominated the Mayflower Eagles 48-6 on Friday at Patrick Stadium. The Pirates scored 22 points in the first quarter and 20 in the third during the win. Mayflower’s lone score came in the second quarter. Dover (3-0) opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Seth Cheak to John Srutka. Cheak hit the PAT to make it 7-0. Cheak nailed Isaac Talkington for a 26-yard touchdown on the next drive to go up 16-0 J...

Lamar defeats PerryvillePERRYVILLE — The Lamar Warriors dominated the Perryville Mustangs 59-22 on Friday. Hunter Davenport opened the scoring on a 1-yard run. Davenport scored again with 3:49 left in the first quarter, and after Seth Collins recovered an onside kick, Davenport hit Blake Kern for a 43-yard touchdown pass. It was a long night for th Mustangs. Perryville scored in the second quarter to pull within 27-8, but there was little they could do to turn the ti...

Danville shuts out BigelowDANVILLE — The Danville Little Johns got their first win of the season with a 44-0 shutout over the Bigelow Panthers. Danville (1-2) rode the arms and legs of quarterback Jake Madding to victory. Madding finished the night 7-of-9 for 223 yards and four touchdowns. Madding carried the ball seven times for 140 yards and two more touchdowns. Madding opened the scoring with a 55-yard run to the Little Johns up 7-0 after a 2-point conversion from C...

RHS volleyball topples AlmaThe Russellville Lady Cyclones volleyball team defeated the Alma Airedalettes 25-11, 25-22, 25-22 on Thursday inside Cyclone Gymnasium. “We got to see different kids play tonight in the varsity game,” Russellville head coach Cindy Jones said. “We have had some injuries and different things this year that have put different players out at different times, so I got to see some girls play that may be called to fill in. They stepped in and did a g...

RMS football on right trackThe Russellville Middle School “Black” team defeated Morrilton 20-0 on Sept. 8 and fell to Pottsville 28-20 on Monday. “We have had a great start this season with numbers and participation,” Russellville head coach Nick Brill said. “With Red and Black combined we have close to 80 players out, and the majority of them have been practicing since early July.” Brill said both teams have been working hard to help build the future of the Russellvill...

RJHS edges past Conway BlueCONWAY — The Russellville Junior High School (RJHS) Whirlwinds defeated rival Conway Blue Junior Wampus Cats 20-7 on Thursday. Russellville (2-1) head coach Michael Smith said he believes — save one play — it could have been a shutout. Conway opened the scoring with a 50-yard bomb in the first quarter to go up 7-0, but the Whirlwinds defense stayed true throughout the remainder of the game. “Defense was the shining spot of this game,” he said....

Dover runners compete at inviteHEBER SPRINGS — The Dover Junior Lady Pirates finished second overall at the Heber Springs Invite. The Junior Pirates finished fifth overall and returning All-State runner, Katie Hartzell finished second overall in her classification as the Dover Pirates and Lady Pirates opened up their cross country season on Tuesday. Junior Lady Pirates take second The Junior Lady Pirates were paced by Josalyn Apple who finished fifth overall out of 104 runn...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Apaches humble incoming CyclonesPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Apaches shocked the Russellville Cyclones 32-24 on Friday at John Needham Stadium. Last year, the Cyclones (1-2) cashed in several Apache turnovers for a 35-28 victory at Cyclone Stadium. This year, Pottsville (2-1) took advantage of four interceptions by Russellville quarterback Michael Mullen. “This is big for our community,” Apaches head coach Bryan Rust said. “It’s big for our kids. Last year, we had our chances...